Machine for applying pressure to shoes



Dec. 16, 1952 c. GROSS 2,621,348

f Filed April 9, 1949 7 Sheet s-Sheet 1 I 60% $2 Invenfar MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOES Charles J Gross 14 5y gs flttorney Dec. 16, 1952 c. J. GROSS 2,621,348

MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOES Filed April 9, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 In van f0r Charles J Gross J70 5/ his fizz cg Dec. 16, 1952 c. .1. GROSS MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHQES 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 9, 1949 Invcnfor Charles JG/"OSJ 5 m- C. J. GROSS MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOES Dec. 16, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 9, 1949 RN w m3 .m mwN Wm m bNkhN lnucnzm" Charles J Gross Dec. 16, 1952 c. J. GROSS 2,621,348

MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOES Filed April 9, 1949 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 H I l I l I 50? 401 1 14 .401 .420 424 454 i: m J0 j g 44a a 4:; x ul 5 4456 410 403 u:

Q 376 Z & Invenfor .406 34 403 Giza/"Z68 JTGross Dec. 16, 1952 c. J. GROSS 2,621,348

MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOES Filed April 9, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 #530 T: w W

VII/I WI 320 636 J] fi 1 J6 J0 J4 JJ Patented Dec. 16, 1952 MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOES Charles J. Gross, Melrose, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 9, 1949, Serial No. 86,495

33 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for applying pressure to shoes and is adapted for use in cement sole attaching operations.

Objects of this invention are to improve and perfect machines of this type without relinquishing any of the advantages of prior machines.

It is desirable, even when an inflatable pad is used, to apply heavy pressure to the shoe and sole. The illustrated machine, as a feature of the invention, provides mechanism for applying heavy pressure to the shoe mechanically and, as shown, by power-operated screws. Non-rotating nuts for the screws are connected to abutments for engaging the last and shoe, and adjacent to the screws are shafts which are being spun by connections to a source of power, for example an electric motor. Operator-controlled means is provided for connecting the shafts to the screws, the screws then rotating in a direction to move the nuts down on the screws and, through the abutments, to apply pressure to the shoe. Of course, an arrangement where the nut is the rotating member instead of the screw would be equally effective and is within the present invention.

To limit the pressure applied, means dependent on such pressure is provided for disconnecting the shafts from the screws, that is, rendering the shafts inoperative when the pressure reaches a predetermined amount. For this purpose each shaft is rotated by a driven member concentric therewith which has a wedge-like projection engaging a recess in a collar splined on the shaft and upheld by a spring. When the pressure on the shoe reaches an amount determined by the spring, the projections slip partly out of the recesses, causing axial movement of the collar against the spring, which movement is utilized to actuate means for disconnecting the shafts from the screw.

To relieve pressure on the shoe, means is provided for reversing the direction of rotation of the shafts which, after a predetermined time, is automatically actuated and the shafts again connected with the screws to run the nuts up.

The illustrated machine is provided with an inflatable pad, and compressed air is utilized not only to inflate the pad but also to control and operate various mechanical devices for effecting the above-indicated operations as well as inflation and deflation of the pad. These operations are controlled by valves of four different types, namely, check valves which allow passage of pressure fluid in one direction only, simple valves opened manually and closed by springs, Valves herein called pilot valves which are opened by fluid pressure and closed by springs and which, when open, permit passage of pressure fluid through them and, when closed, permit exhaust or movement of the pressure fluid through them in the reverse direction, and a valve which is opened automatically, is latched open for a time and then automatically released to closure by a spring. When closed, it permits exhaust of pressure fluid which has passed through it when open. This valve will be referred to as an automatic valve." The cycle of the machine is briefly as follows.

A sole is placed on the pad, a treadle is depressed which momentarily opens a valve admitting pressure to a cylnder the piston of which is operated to allow gages to engage the sole, a latch preventing return of the piston. A shoe is located on the sole, the abutments are located over the shoe, and a second treadle is depressed to open momentarily a valve admitting operating pressure to the first pilot valve. This valve admits fluid pressure to a chamber called a distributor from which one pipe leads to a second pilot valve and another pipe to a third pilot valve. In each pipe is a check valve, the one in the pipe leading to the second pilot valve opening in a direction away from the distributor, and the one leading to the third pilot valve opening in a direction toward the distributor. A by-pass with a restricted passage is provided around each check valve, that is, leading from the distributor to a point in the pipe beyond the check valve. By this arrangement pressure fluid passes quickly to the second pilot valve to open it and passes slowly to the third pilot valve to open it later. Pressure passing through the second pilot valve tensions a spring and operates first the reversing mechanism to drive the shafts in a direction to screw the nuts down and then opens, and latches open, the automatic valve pressure through which operates mechanism for connecting the shafts to the screws, completion of which movement trips the latch and allows the automatic valve to close.

When the pressure reaches such a point that a slip occurs between the shafts and the screws, they are disconnected, the gage latch is released, and a valve called an inflating valve is opened and latched open, this valve then allowing pressure fluid to pass through the third pilot valve (which has meantime been opened by pressure fluid'passing through its restricted'by-pass) to inflate the pad. The shoe is retained under pressure until the operator has placed a shoe and sole under pressure on the other side of the machine, a period, for example, of ten seconds. This is efiected by a needle valve in a pipe connected to the operating chamber of the first pilot valve, the needle valve being so set, for instance, that after ten seconds enough pressure has leaked out to permit the first pilot valve to close. Pressure in the distributor isthus exhausted through this valve, and the operating pressure on the third pilot valve quickly exhausts through its check valve, allowing it to close and open to exhaust the pressure in the pad. The operating pressure of the second pilot valve exhausts slowly through its by-pass and, when it opens, the tensioned spring in the reversing mechanism reacts first to place said'niechanism in a position reversely to turnthe screws and then opens the automatic valve to cause connection between the shafts and screws, whereupon the nuts are moved up to release the pressure of the abutments on the shoe. When the nuts reach their upper limit, their resistance to movement causes again a slip in thefcon'nections between the shafts and their driving mechanism which is utilized to disconnect the shafts from the screws, upward movement 'of the nuts operating mechanism to unlatch the inflating valve.

These and other features oi the invention will appear more fully when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. ,1 is a front "elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a detail view, in front elevation, of parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of parts shown in Fig. 2 taken from the opposite side of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of parts shown inFig. 4;

Fig. Sis a front view of mechanism for revers'ing the direction, of rotation of the piessure-applying screws partly in section;

Fig. 7 is a view, partly in section, of parts shown in Fig. 6

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the motor and driving connections;

. Fig. 9 is a view, partly'in section, of parts showninFig. 4;

Fig. 10 is 'a sectional view of'par'ts shown in Fig. 9 taken at right angles to that figure; and Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing a fluidpressure system whereby thevarious' mechanisms are operated or their operation controlled.

As indicated in Fig. 1, this machine is of the twin type, one side being adapted to operate on a, right shoe and the other on a left. Since the mechanisms of the two sides'are otherwise substantially identical, the right side only will be herein specifically described.

The machine has a base Ila front plate [5 upon which some of the mechanism is supported, and an inclined table 16 upon which pad boxes 18 containing inflatable pads 29 are'supported in a frame 22 (Fig. 2). Mechanism for applying pressure to the shoe comprises a heel abutment 23 (Fig. 1) carried by a bail 28 and movable into position over the cone of the last by a handle 25 and a toe abutment 26 carried by a' bail 21 (Fig. 2) and connected to the bail 24 by a rod 28 for movement into position rearwardly with respect to the shoe. The bail 24 is connected by a tension spring 29 to the frame, and on the rod 28 is a compression spring 3! by which the bail 27 is pushed forwardly by the bail 24 when a shoe is to be removed. The pad 4 box 18 and gage mechanism 30 are supported on the table 16, the gages being allowed to move into operative position on the pad by downward movement of a vertical bar 32. The bar is guided in bearings 34, 35 (Fig. 2) and has a slot 36 in its upper end engaged by a pin 31 in a lever 38 pivoted at 49 to the table IG. The above described mechanism is substantially like that disclosed in an application for Letters Patent of the United States Serial N 0. 751,560, filed May 31, 1947, in the'names of H. Gulbrandsen et al., now Patent No. 2,558,847, granted July 3, 1951. The pin 37 is yieldingly held in the lower end of the slot by a spring -'-32 connected between the pin 37 and a pin 43 in the bearing 35. The bar 32 is sustained by a compression spring 44 located on the bar between the bearing 35 and a flange 45 on the bar, upward movement of the bar 32 being limited by the stopping of the gages in their withdrawn position. The slot 36 permits further downward movement of the bar after the gages 30 come in contact'with the'sole to cause the bar to be locked down by a latch 48 pivoted at 513 to 2. lug projecting rearwardly from thefront plate l5, the latch being urged by a compression spring cl to engage a notch :2 in the bar 32. The latch .8 has an arm 53 carrying a pin at which engages a slot 55in a vertical rod :56 having at its upper end a knob 57 which can at any time be pushed down 'to release the latch. The latch also has an arm '53 which is connected to a rod till a pull on which will release the latch. Means Iorpulling on the rod at the proper time in the cycle of the m chine to reiease the gages automatically will be later described. v, I

To pull QOWD. the bar 32 without effort on the part or the operator, the lower end of the bar is pivoted to a piston rod 62 passing through a stuning box 54 on the head of a cylinder 66,'t'he lower end of which is pivoted on a pin 68 proiecting from the front plate 15. As indicated in Fig. 11, a piston 78 on the rod 62 is pushed down by compressed air admitted by operation of a valve V -I shown in section, the valve comprising a plunger i2 upheld'by a spring 16, the plunger having a flange 15 held against a valve seat 16 by the spring. Depression of the plunger 12 will admit air through a pipe 78 above the piston III to move the bar 32 down. To operate the plunger a treadle Si! is connected by a link 82 to the mid portion of a lever :54 one end of which is pivoted at 86 to the bar 32 and the other end of which is over the plunger l2. Depression of the t'rea'dle moves the lever 8d about its pivot 86, depressing the plunger 72 and admitting air momentarily to the cylinder 66, causing the piston to move down. This movement, however, moves the lever about its pivot to the link 82, allowing the'valve to close, the bar being now held down by the latch 33. The air in the cylinder 66 is allowed to leak out through a passage 83 restricted by a screw 90.

Compressed air is provided by an air pump 1 00 (Fig. 11) driven by a belt 12 from a motor I84, the pump being connected by a pipe lflfi to a tank hi8 from which pipes H3, H2, HQJIB lead to the valve V4. The shaft of the motor H14 (Fig. 8) carries a pulley E20 connected by a belt 122 to a pulley 124 on a shaft I26 having a small gear I28 meshing with a'large gear 136 on a shaft I32. A small sprocket 134 is connected to a larger sprocket 136 by a chain 138. The larger sprocket 13B is fixed to a shaft M9. There are two shafts 140, one for -each side of the machine, 'which'are arranged in axial alinement and connected together by a flexible coupling I42 of known type (Fig. 7). The sprocket I36 is on the outer end of the left-hand shaft I49 through which the left side of the machine is driven by mechanism similar to that for the right-hand side-now to be described. The shaft I49 is mounted in a casing I44 on ball bearings I45, one of which is shown in Fig. 7, and mounted loosely on the shaft I49 are two opposed bevel gears I46, 48 both of which mesh with a bevel gear I59 on a shaft I52 carrying a sprocket I54. Either gear I46 or I48 may be driven from the shaft I49 by a collar I56 splined on the shaft I49 and having on one side teeth I53 which may mesh with similar teeth I69 on the gear I 46 and on the other side teeth I62 shown in Fig. 7 as meshing with corresponding teeth on the gear I48. With the collar I56 in the position shown, the shaft I49 will drive the sprocket I54 in one direction and, when the collar is shifted leftwise to engage the teeth I59 with the teeth I69, the sprocket I54 will be driven in the opposite direction.

The collar I56 has a peripheral groove I65 which is engaged by rolls I69 on arms I19 fixed to a shaft I12 upon which outside the casing I44 is fixed an arm H4. The upper end of the arm I14 has bifurcations I16 between which is pivoted at I11 a collar I18 through which passes a piston rod I89 having a portion I82 of smaller diameter. On the larger portion nuts I84 are threaded to bear on the collar I18 and on the smaller portion between washers I86 is a light spring [83, the outer washer I36 being held on the rod by nuts I99. Between a washer I92 bearing on the bifurcations I16 and one bearing on the head of a cylinder I94 is a heavier spring I96. The cylinder is pivoted at I98 on a bracket 299 secured at 292 to the casing I44 and, when air is admitted through a pipe 294 to the cylinder, a piston 296 moves toward the right, compressing the spring I96 and, through the lighter spring I88, moving the arm I14 yieldingly to shift the collar I56 toward the left, releasing the teeth I62 and engaging the teeth I59, I39 to cause rotation of the sprocket I54 in the opposite direction. When the air is exhausted from the cylinder I94, the heavier spring I96 reacts and shifts the collar I56 back to its original position. Extending leftward from the arm I14 (Fig. 6) is an arm 2E9 pivoted at 2I2 to a link 2E4. The link has a slot 2I6 engaging a pin 2I8 on a lever 229 fulcrumed at 222 and carrying a roll 224 adjacent to which is a lever 226 fulcrumed at 228 and having two abutments 239, 232 for the roll 224 and between them a projection 234.

During the later portion of the movement of the piston 296 to the right in the cylinder I94 the lower end of the slot 2 I 6 engages the pin 2 I8 and shifts the roll 224 upward against the abutment 232. As the roll passes the projection 234, it swings the lever 226 to the right against a plunger 236 of a valve V-2, the lower end of the lever 223 being caught by a latch lever 249 pivoted at 242 held up by a tension spring 243 and having an arm extending to the right through which is threaded a screw 244 in position to be engaged by upward movement of a cylinder 246 connected by a flexible tube 248 to the valve V-2 which is supplied with air from a pipe 259.

The valve V-2, as best shown in Fig. 6, comprises a casing 252 to which air is led by the pipe 250 and discharged when the valve is open through the pipe 249. In the casing is a valve seat 254 engaged by a ,disk .258. ,on the plunger 236 held by a spring 269 against the valve seat to close the valve. In its closed position, as shown, air can exhaust from the pipe 249 through a passage 262 which is closed when the valve is open.

The cylinder 246 has its piston connected by a rod 219 to a fixed lug 212 of the casing I44, the lower end of the cylinder (Fig. 2) being pivoted at 214 to an arm 216 of a three-armed lever fulcrumed at 213 on a frame 219. Another arm 289 of the lever has pivoted thereto at 282 a catch 294 the clockwise movement of which is limited to the position shown by an extension 236. The catch, however, can move counterclockwise to a limited extent against a spring 298 to engage a lug 299 on a bar 292. When air is admitted above the piston in the cylinder 246 through the pipe 248 the cylinder moves up, causing the lever 216, 239 to pull the bar 292 down until the catch 284 is tripped off by engagement of a projection 294 thereon with a stop screw 296.

A third arm 298 of the lever pivoted at 218 is connected by an adjustable link 399 to an arm 392 of an angle lever pivoted at 394 which has an arm 396 carrying a catch 234 similar to that on the arm 289, the catch engaging a projection 299 on a bar 398 similar to the bar 292. Thus,

vhen the lever 226, 289, 298 is turned clockwise,

the bars 292, 398 will be pulled down simultaneously and the catches tripped off by the stop screws 296. When the cylinder 246 reaches substantially the upper limit of its movement, it engages the screw 244 on the latch lever 249 and releases the lever 22B, permitting the valve V-2 to close, whereupon the air in the cylinder will exhaust through the passage 292. Since the opening and closing of the valve V-2 are efiected automatically, it is referred to as the automatic valve.

Upon descent of the bars 292, 398, each operates a mechanism shown in Fig. 9. Since these mechanisms are identical only one need be described in detail. The bar 292 is guided for longitudinal movement in bearings 3E9, 3I2 and has a notch 3M which is engaged by a latch 3I6 pivoted at 3l3 to a lever 329 and urged toward the bar 292 by a compression spring 322 located between a lug on the lever and a projection 323 on the latch. The .bar is upheld by a tension spring 324 connected to a pin 326 on the lever 329 and to a pin 328 on the bar. When the latch 2I6 is in engagement with the notch 2 I4, a shoulder 323 on the bar is adjacent to a surface 339 on the lever 329. The lever 329 is fulcrumed between its ends on a shaft 331 the left-hand arm of which has two branches 332 embracing a collar 334, each branch carrying a roll 336 engaging a peripheral groove 331 in the collar. The collar is sustained by a compression spring 338 partly enclosed in a cup 349, the cup having a hub 342 rotating in a ball bearing 343. The inner ring of the ball bearing 343 is secured to the hub 342 and to a shaft 344 by a washer 346 engaging the.

ring and a nut 343 threaded on the end of the shaft, the shaft having a ball bearing 359 between its ends. The collar 334 and the cup 349 are connected for rotation together, as best shown in Fig. 4, the collar 334 having a downward projection 354 entering a slot 351 in the rim of the cup. There is a space between the collar and the rim of the cup and this can be closed by downward movement of the collar without disturbing the driving connections between the collar and the cup.

Above the collar is a gear 352 having a hub 355 (Fig. 9) rotatably mounted on a bushing 356 having a flange 358 engaging the end of the hub 35 5. There is also a bushing 355 forming a bearing for the collar 334 and the shaft 344. On the shaft 344 is a flange 366 bearing on the flange 358 of the bushing. The gear 352 has on its lower face a pair of wedge-shaped projections 362 which are received in correspondingly shaped recesses in the upper face of the collar 334 which is held yieldingly in engagement with the projections 362 by the spring 338 the upward pressure of which is opposed by the flange 336 on the shaft 344, the shaft being held by the ball bearings against vertical movement. For driving the gear 352 and a similar gear on the duplicate mechanism, a third gear 364 (Fig. 4) is mounted between the two gears 352 and in mesh with them on a. shaft 366 mounted in suitable bearings in the frame and having at its lower end a sprocket wheel 310 which is connected by a chain 312 to the sprocket [54 (Fig. 2) which is, as already explained, driven by means of the reversing gearing. The abutment 29 for the last and the abutment 32 for the forepart of the shoe connected respectively to the bails 24, El are moved down to press the shoe upon the inflatable pad 20 in the pad box 26.

Below the table 16 each bail 24, 2'! is pivoted at 390 to a nut 392, each nut having a groove engaging astrut 394 forming part of a frame 395, the nuts being thus confined to movement lengthwise of two multiple threaded screws 353 which they engage. The screws have lower cylindrical portions journaled in bearings in the frame through which they extend. The lower end of each screw has secured thereto a ratchet wheel 466 on which are clutch teeth 46!, the screws 398 being each centralized over one of the shafts 344. Above the ball bearing 356 (Fig. 9)

the shaft 344 is slightly reduced, and mounted thereon is a sleeve'462 having at its lower end a ridge 463 engaging the inner ring of the ball bearing 356. The sleeve is made to rotate with the shaft by a key 464 which lies in slots cut in opposite sides of the sleeve from the top nearly to the bottom and passes through a slot in the shaft. The key extends beyond the sleeve to engage at each end a slot 408 ina collar 4l0 (Fig. '10), the sides of the slot being parallel to the axis of the shaft 344. The upper portion of the collar is reduced, forming a sleeve portion 4l2 fitting the shaft 344. In the upper end portion of the shaft is a threaded hole in which is a screw 4 which engages the top of the key and presses it against the lower ends of the slots in the sleeve 402, thus clamping the sleeve against the inner ring of the ball bearing 356, which ring, together with the sleeve 462 and the collar 415, rotates with the shaft. A set screw 445 is located above the screw 414. The collar, however, can move upwardly endwise to the shaft because the ends of the key 404 lie in the vertical slot 408 which extends parallel to the axis of the shaft. Surrounding the sleeve portion 412 of the collar 410 is a cap 420 having a skirt 422 extending down to surround the upper end of the collar. The cap carries projections 424 which are to engage the projections 46! to drive the screws 398. If these projections were parts of the collar M0, the shock of engaging them with the projections 40! while the shaft 344 is in motion might be great enough to cause breakage. Therefore, a cushioning washer 426 is provided between the cap 420 and the upper end of the collar 4), and pins 428 (Fig. 9) are seated in the collar 4) with their upper portions extending into the washer 426. Other pins 436 (Fig. 10) are seated in the cap 420 and extend down into the washer 426. Thus, the cap is driven through the washer which, being of resilient material, will reduce the shock of engagement when the collar 416 is moved up to cause engagement of the projections 424 with the projections 46! to cause rotation of the screws.

The collar 416 has a peripheral groove 434 which is engaged by two rolls 436 (Fig. 4) one on each branch 436 of a yoke arm 446 the arm being pivoted at 442 (Fig. 9) to a bracket 444 on the frame. On the same pivot as the arm 440 is a lever 446 having branches 448, 456 extending one below and one above the arm 440. A compression spring 452 has its ends seated respectively in the branch 443 and in the arm 440, and through the branch 456 is threaded a screw 454 adjustably to engage the arm 440. The lever 445 is connected by a link 456 to the bar 292.

When, by upward movement of the cylinder 246 (Fig. 2), the two bars 292, 338 are drawn down as described, the lever 446 will move clockwise and, through the spring 452, will lift the arms 438 carrying the rolls 436 and lift the collars 455 which, of course, are being spun by the power connections described, thus causing the engagement of the projections 424 with the projections 46! to spin the screws 368, 398 to move the nuts down and hence the bails 24, 21 to press a shoe upon the inflatable pad 26.

The driving connection between each of the gears 352 and the collars 334 is constituted solely by the projections 352 engaging the corresponding recesses in the collars 33 4. Accordingly, when sufiicient resistance to rotation of the shaft 344 is built up by the pressure applied to the shoe, which pressure is determined by the spring 333, the collar 334 will begin to slip with respect to the gear 352, causing the projections to slip partly out of the recesses and consequently to move the collar 334 down and hence the arm 325 up. This movement of the levers 320, 32] brings the surfaces 336 (Fig. 9) thereon 'into engagement with the shoulders 329 and positively turns the arms 446 counterclockwise and presses the screws 454 against the yoke arms 446 to move the projections 424 out of engagement with the projections 40!. As the latch 316 moves upward with the lever 326, the projection 323 thereon engages a stop screw 458 which releases the latch and allows the lever to be returned by a reseating of the recess upon the projection 362 under the impulse of the spring 338. It is to be understood that the projections 362 never leave their recesses because the lower end of the collar 334 will engage the rim of the cup 346 before the projections 352 move entirely out of their respective recesses.

On each side of each of the ratchet wheels 40!] is a pawl 466 (Fig. 5) pivoted at 452 to the frame and urged by a spring 464 toward the ratchet wheel. Each pawl carries a roll 465 having a beveled lower end 458 which cooperates with a beveled corner 47% of the cap 420. When the caps are lifted to cause engagement of the projections 424 with the projections 48L the bevels 470 engage the bevels 468 and move the pawlaway from the ratchets while the screws a1. being turned. When the caps move down to disengage the teeth, the rolls are released and the springs 464 push the pawls into engagement with the ratchets to prevent reverse movement of the screws. Each pair of pawls is differentially arran ed so that practically no reverse movement of the screws can occur. When the right-hand lever 32I (Fig. 2) moves up. it lifts an arm 412 of an angle ever pivoted at 414 to the frame, causing the other arm 4 6 to pull on the rod Ell and release the gage latch 48.

After placing the sole u on the pad 20, the operator de resses the treadle 84 to allow the gages to engage the sole, the bar 32 controlling the gages bein locked by the lat h 48. Should it be desirab e to release the ga es, the operator may depress the knob 51 which releases the latch. He will then o erate the treadlea ain to bring the gases in. The operator next places a shoe on the sole, the shoe being located relatively to the sole by the gages. Then, by grasping the handle 25 (Fi 1) he swings the bail 24 toward him and locates the heel abutment 23 over the cone of the last. This movement of the bail 24, as in the machine of the application referred to, locates the forepart abutment 26 over the toe portion of the shoe.

To initiate the action of the screws 398 to apply preliminary pressure to the shoe by drawing down the bails 24, 21, the operator depresses a treadle 482 (Fig. 2) to open a valve V-3 the construction of which is identical with the valve V-l already described. A lever 484 pivoted at 435 to the valve casing is connected by a pin 488 to a depending link 490, the link and lever being sustained by a tension spring 422 connected to the pin 4 8 and to the frame. The lower end of the link has a hook en aging a pin 494 on a treadle lever pivoted at 496. Upon depression of the treadle the pin 494 pulls on the link 494, causing the lever to engage the plunger 12 of the valve and open it. Further depression of the treadle causes a strut 497 on the treadle lever to push the hook of the link 495 ofi the pin 494, releasing the valve and permittin it to close. As the treadle rises, a leaf spring 498 insures that the hook of the link 49$] will again engage the pin 494 as the treadle rises. The valve V-3 (Fig. 11) is supplied with air under pressure by the pipe I I6 and, upon opening of the valve, the air passes through a pipe 500, a check valve CV-I and pipe 502 to a pilot valve PV-I. Several of these valves are used in the system so that a description of one will sufiice.

The va ves PV-I, PV-2 and PV-3 are of identical construction and each comprises a casin 544 (Fig. 11) ha ing three chambers 525, 528, H], a portion 5 I 2 of the casing separating the chambers 556, 508, and a septum 584 separating the chambers 548, 5H3. The chamber 525 is cylindrical and contains a piston 5H5 connected to a plunger 5H which passes tightly through the portion M2 and loosely through the septum. Below the septum is a disk 5I8 on the pl nger which, when the plunger is raised, closes the opening in the septum. The plunger and piston are normally raised by a compression spring 523 between the casing and the disk 5I8. The plunger has a hole 522 through it which alines, when the valve is closed, with two passages in the portion 5 I2, one communicating with the outside of the casing and the other with the chamber 558 so that air from a pipe 524 may be exhausted through the passages alined with the hole 522. When the valve is open, the hole is out of line with the passages and air entering the chamber from the pipe 526 may pass through the septum to the pipe 524 leading to a distributor 532 but not through the hole 522. From the distributor a pipe 532 l0 leads to a check valve CV-2, opening in the direction of the arrow to a pipe 534 leading to pilot valve PV-2. From the pipe 534 to the distributor is a restricted by-pass 538. A pipe 538 from the distributor leads to a check valve CV-3 which opens only in the direction of the arrow and prevents air from passing through it to a pipe 548 leading to pilot valve PV-3. However, air may pass slowly through a restricted by-pass 542 to the pipe 543. By this arrangement the pilot valve PV-2 will be opened immediately after pressure occurs in the distributor and the opening of the pilot valve PV-3 will be delayed. Opening of the pilot valve PV-2 allows pressure to flow from a pipe 544 leading to the reservoir I58 to the pipe 254 leading to the cylinder I34 the piston 25B of which will move to the right (Fig. 7), T first shifting the collar I58 to the left to cause I the gears I45, I58 to drive the sprocket I54 in a direction to turn the shaft 344 (Fig. 9) in a direcv cylinder 245 and pull down the bars 292, 338, thus causing engagement of the projections 424 with the projections 44! to cause rotation of the screws 358 in a direction to move the nuts 392 down.

When the nuts have been screwed down hard enough to cause the projections 362 (Fig. 9) to move partly out of their recesses in the collar 334, the lever 332, 325 is actuated to move the bar 232 up, and the bar 348 is also actuated at about the same time by the lever 32I of the duplicate mechanism. Thus, the projections 44!, 424 will be disengaged and the latches 3H5 released. At

the same time an upward pull will be given by the lever 325 to a Bowden cable 544 attached to the lever and leading to an inflation valve V-4.

This valve islike the valves V-I and V-3. The:

cable 544 is guided through brackets 546, 548

(Fig. 2) and connected at 550. to a lever 552 fulcrumed at 554 and having a projection 556 overlying the plunger 12 of the valve V-4. A pull on the cable swings the lever 552 clockwise to open the valve V-4 which is then looked in open position by a latch 558 having a fixed pivot at 550. The latch is impelled downwardly by a tension, spring 552 connected to it and to a fixed lug 564. When the valve is opened by the pull of the cable, the lat-ch engages a shoulder 558 on the top of the lever 552. By this time enough air has passed through the restricted by-pass 542 to open thepilot valve PV-3 so that air can pass from the pipe H2 through the valve V-4 to a pipe 562 leading through a check valve CV-4 to the pilot valve PV-3 and thence by a pipe 570 to the inflatable pad 28 under the shoe.

Should it be desirable for any reason to close the valve V-4, it may be done by depressing the.

knob 5'! on the rod55 which at its lower end is pivoted to an arm 5H of an angle lever pivoted at 5'52 and having another arm pivoted at 574! It is desired that the shoe may remain under- Therefore,

pressure for a predetermined time. a pipe 582 connected to the piston chamber 555 of the pilot valve PV-I leads to a needle valve 584 located in a position to be conveniently adjusted by the operator by turning a thumb head 586. When, after a predetermined time, sufficient air has passed through the needle valve to,

allow the spring are to close the pilot valve PV-I, air in the distributor 5313 will pass through the hole 522 in the plunger Exhaustion of air from the distributor allows the operating pressure in the pilot valve PV-3 to exhaust quickly through the check valve CV-3. This causes pi ot valve PV-3 to close but, since this valve is like PV-l, the air from the pad will exhaust from the pipe 570 through the valve PV-3. The operating pressure of the valve PV-2 will exhaust slowly sinc it must pass through the restricted by-pass 536 and not through the check valve CV-Z. When later the pilot valve. PV-2 closes, air from the cylinder I96 can pass through the pipe 295 and out through the exhaust passage of PV-2. This allows the compressed spring I96 to react and first move the collar I56 (Fig. 7) to connect the gears (48, 159 to the drive shaft l4!) and cause the sprocket 154 to turn in a direction to move the nuts 392 up and relieve pressure on the shoe. Later the downward movement of the link 214 (Fig. 6), due to further expansion of the spring I92, will shift the roll 224 into the position shown in Fig. 6, thereby opening the valve V-Z which will be held open by the latch 24! Air will pass through the valve to operate the cylinder 2 .6 which, of course, will pull down the bars 292, 368 again and connect the screws. 39!! with the spinning shafts 344. The nuts will thus be moved up as far as they can go, causing the projections 362 to actuate the levers 32G, 32| to raise the bars 292, 308. Raising of the bars 292, 308 causes the screws 55% on the arms 45!! of the levers M6 to depress the yoke arms sea and disengage the projections 424 from the projections 40L Upward movement of the levers 32B, 32! will release the latches 386. When the cylinder 246 reaches nearly the upper end of its upward movement, it hits the screw 244 and releases the latch 249. The automatic valve V-Z will then close and air in the cylinder will pass out through the passage 252 of that valve.

The pad may be deflated at any time by depressing a knob 588 of a valve V-5. Opening of this valve allows the operating pressure of the pilot valve PV-I to pass quickly through the valve from a pipe sec connected to the pipe 582 leading to the needle valve.

Near the end of the operation of the machine the inflating valve should be closed and, to protect the inflatable pad as well as the operator, it should be impossible to inflate the bag when no shoe is in the machine or when the abutments are up. For this purpose mechanism shown in Fig. 3 is provided. A projection 592 on one of the nuts 382, when near its raised position, engages the end portion of a lever 59d fulcrumed at 595 on a bracket 598 fixed to the strut 394. The outer end of the lever 594 has pivoted thereto a link 650 which is pivoted at 652 to a lever 504 fulcrumed at 586 on the bracket 598. The inner end of the lever 694 is in the path of the projection 592 and the outer end of the lever 605 is depressed by a compression spring 501 located between the lever and a projection 508 on the bracket 598. The outer end of the lever 604 is connected to a Bowden cable 510 guided in a sleeve BIZ supported on the bracket 598 and extending down (Fig. 2) to the bar 575 to which it is connected. Therefore, when the nut 392 (Fig. 3) approaches its upper position, it will engage the lever 594 and move it to cause the 12 link Silt to rock the lever 694 and pull up on the cable 6H] to release the latch 558 of the valve V-d, whereupon the valve will be closed by its spring.

Should the nuts 392 be run down, when no shoe is in the machine, beyond their position where the abutments 23, 26 usually engage a shoe, the projection 592 on the nut will engage the lever 6M directly and actuate it to pull on the cable 6! t to release the valve V-d should it be open.

The operation of the machine will now be reviewed with particular reference to the diagram of Fig. ll. Assuming the motor N34 to have been started by operating a switch GIZ (Fig. l), the pump H30 will be supplying air to the tank Hi3 and the shafts 344 will be turning in a direction tov run the nuts 392 up. Assuming further that the treadle has been depressed to open valve V-l and cause the bar 32 to be moved down and held by the latch 18, thus allowing the gages to engage a sole placed on the pad 29, a shoe has been placed on the sole and located, the bails 2d, 21 have been swung into their dotted line position (Fig. 2) over the last and shoe, and the treadle 482 has been depressed momentarily to open the valve V-3 and introduce a shot of air into the chamber 585 of the pilot valve PV-l. Thus, air under pressure is allowed to pass from the pipe 526, through PV-I to pipe 524, and to the distributor 530, from which it is passed quickly through check valve CV-Z to the pilot valve PV-Z, allowing air pressure to pass from the pipe 5 3 to the pipe 2M and move the piston 285 toward the right, first to shift the reversing mechanism (Fig. 7) into position to drive the shaft 3&4 in the direction to screw the nuts down and then to open the automatic valve V-Z and allow air pressure to pass from the pipe 25!] through the valve to the flexible pipe 248 and thence to the cylinder 2 .6 to cause it to move up, this being the stage of operation indicated in the diagram (Fig. 11). As the cylinder 245 moves up, the catches 28d engage the lugs 290 to pull down the bars 292, 398, the nuts 392 being thus run down to apply pressure to the shoe. Meantime enough air has passed through the restricted by-pass 542 to open pilot valve PV-3. When the pressure on the shoe is sufiicient to cause the projections 352 to move partly out of their recesses, the levers 325, 324 are operated to unclutch the shafts 364 from the screws, the lever 325 operating the cable 56 to open the valve V-4 and allow air pressure to pass from the pipe H2 through the valve V-A, the pipe 569, check valve CV- l and the already open pilot valve PV-3 to the pipe 579 leading to the inflatable pad 20. At the same time the lever 32!, similar to 329, operates the angle lever 472, 76 to pull on the rod 60 and release the latch it so that the ases will be withdrawn.

The shoe is now under sole-attaching pressure which should remain on for a time sufficient to enable an operator to put a shoe under pressure on the other side of the machine, for example ten seconds. This time is predetermined by the setting of the needle valve 58 connected by the pipe 582 to the chamber 5'36 of the pilot valve PVI. When enough of this pressure on the piston 5 l 6 leaks through the needle valve 584, the valve PV-l closes, allowing the pressure in the distributor 5-30 to exhaust through it. When th s occurs, the operating pressure on pilot valve PV-3 quickly exhausts through the check valve (JV-3, al owing the pad 26 to deflate through pilot valve PV-3. The operating pressure on pilot valve PV-2 slowly passes through the restricted passage 536 and, when PV-2 closes, the pressure in the cylinder I94 exhausts through it, allowing the spring [96.150 react and operate the lever I14, 219 counterclockwise first to restore the reversing mechanism to its original position and then opening the automatic valve V-Z to cause operation of the cylinder 2 36 which operates the levers 280, 306 to pull down the bars 292, 308 and clutch the shafts 3-44 to the screws to run the nuts up. When the nuts reach the upper limit of their movement and thus ofier resistance to the rotation of the screws, the projections 362 will slip partially out of their recesses, thus causing operation of the levers 320, 152i to disconnect the shafts 344 from the screws 3%. Meantime the projection 592 has operated the lever 594 to unlatch the valve V-4 and allow it to close.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, a'pair of abutments for engaging the shoe, a screw and nut for each abutment relative rotation of which operates the abutments to apply pressure to the shoe on the pad, power-operated means for relatively rotating the screw and nut, manually operated means for initiating action of the ower-operated means, and means for disconnecting the poweroperated means when the pressure on the screws reaches a predetermined amount.

2. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, a pair of abutments for engaging a shoe on the pad, a nut connected to each abutment, a screw associated with each nut, relative rotation of the screws and nuts operating the abutments to apply pressure to the shoe on the pad, power-operated means for relatively rotating the screws and nuts, manually controlled means for initiating action of said power-operated means, and means controlled by the applied pressure for rendering the poweroperated means inoperative.

3. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, a pair of abutments for engaging a shoe on the pad, a nut connected to each abutment, a screw associated with each nut, a pair of shafts alined with said screws, poweroperated means for rotating the shafts, clutches for connecting the shafts to the screws, o eratorcontrolled means for engaging the clutches, means operated by resistance of the screws to rotation by said clutches for disengaging the clutches, and means operating after a dwell for a predetermined time to cause reversal of the shafts and re-engagement of the clutches.

4. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, an abutment for en gaging the shoe, a nut connected to the abutment, a screw associated with the nut rotation of which applies pressure to the shoe, a shaft associated with the screw, operator-controlled means for connecting the shaft and screw, and means responsive to the applied pressure for automatically disconnected the shaft and screw when the pressure applied reaches a predetermined amount.

5. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, an abutment for engaging the shoe, a nut connected to the abutment, a screw associated with the nut, rotation of said screw applying pressure to the shoe, a

power-operated shaft associated with the screw,

operator-controlled means for connecting the shaft and screw, means for automatically disconnecting the shaft and screw when the pressure applied reaches a predetermined amount, and a timing valve acting after'a predetermined time to cause reversal of the shaft and rotation of the screw in the opposite direction to relieve the pressure.

6. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, an abutment for the shoe, means comprising a screw and nut for moving the abutment toward the shoe to apply pressure thereto by relative rotation of the nut and screw, a rotating shaft, connections from the shaft to eilect relative rotation of the nut and screw, power-operated means for rotating the shaft in either direction, operator-controlled means for initiating the pressure-applying operation, means dependent on resistance of the shoe to further pressure for rendering the shaft inoperative, and automatic means for reversing the rotation of the shaft and rendering it again operative to relieve the pressure.

7. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, an abutment for engaging a shoe on the pad, a screw and nut relative rotation of which operates the abutment to apply pressure to the shoe, power-operated means for relatively rotating the screw and nut, ratchet and pawl means to prevent reverse relative rotation of the screw and nut, and manually operated means for initiating the action of said power-operated means.

8. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, an abutment for engaging a shoe on the pad, a screw and nut relative rotation of which operates the abutment to apply pressure to the shoe, power-operated means including a clutch for relatively rotating the screw and nut, manually operated means for initiating the action of the power-operated means, means responsive to resistance of the shoe to the pressure applied for rendering the power-operated means inoperative, and means rendered operative by disconnecting the clutch to prevent reverse relative rotation of the screw and nut.

9. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, a pair of abutments for engaging a shoe on the pad, a nut connected to each abutment, a screw associated with each nut, rotation of the screws operating the abutments to apply pressure to the shoe, power-operated means for rotating the screws, manually operated means for initiating the action of said power-operated means, and means for preventing reverse rotation of the screws.

19. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes. the combination of a pad, a pair of abutments for engaging a shoe on the pad, a nut for each abutment, a screw associated with each nut, a pair of shafts alined with said screws, power-operated means for rotating the shafts, clutches for connecting the shafts to the screws, operator-controlled means for engaging the clutches, means operated by resistance of the screws to rotation by said clutches for disengaging the clutches, and means operating upon disengagement of the clutches for holding the screws from reverse rotation.

11. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, a pair of abutments for engaging a shoe on the pad, a nut connected to each abutment, a screw associated with each nut rotation of which applies pressure to the shoe, 7

apower operated shaft associated with each screw, Operator-controlled means for connecting the shafts and screws, means for automatically disconnecting the shafts and screws when the pressure applied reaches a predetermined amount, pawl means preventing reverse rotation of the screw, and means acting after a predetermined time for reversing the shafts, and releasing the pawl 'means whereby the screws are rotated in the opposite direction to relieve the pressure.

12. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, an abutment for engaging a shoe on the pad, means comprising a screw and nut for relatively operating the abutmerit and pad to apply pressure to the shoe, power=operated means for relatively operating the'screw and nut to move relatively the abutment and pad, manually operated means for initiating the action of said power-operated means, means responsive to resistance of the shoe to the pressure applied for rendering the power means inoperative, and means operatin automatically after a predetermined time for causing the poweroperated means to reversely relatively operate the screw and nut to relieve pressure on the shoe.

13. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, an abutment for engaging a shoe on the pad, a nut connected to the abutment, a screw associated with the nut rotation of which applies pressure to the shoe, a power-operated shaft associated with the screw, operator-controlled means for connecting the shaft and screw, means for automatically disconnecting the shaft and screw when the pressure applied reaches a predetermined amount, means for reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft, and means operating after a predetermined time dwell to operate said reversing means and said means for connecting the shaft and the screw.

14. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad, a valve for controlling inflation of the pad, an abutment for engaging a shoe on the pad, a nut movable with the abutment, a screw for operating the nut, and means engaged by the nut when it is fully raised or when the abutment is moved down beyond the position where it would engage a shoe if a shoe were in the machine to cause the valves to close.

15. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad, a valve for controlling admission of fluid to the pad, a latch for holding the valve open, an abutment movable to press the shoe upon the pad, and connections between the abutment and the latch for releasing the latch when the abutment is raised.

16. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad, a valve for controlling admission of fluid to the pad, a latch for holding the valve open, an abutment movable to press the shoe upon the pad, and connections between the abutment and the latch whereby when the abutment is moved down beyond shoeengaging position the latch is released.

1']. In a machine for applyin pressure'to shoes, the combination of a pad, an abutment for the shoe, a nut connected to the abutment, a screw engagin the nut for moving the abutment toward the shoe to apply pressure thereto by rotation of the screw, a rotating shaft, releasable connections from the shaft to the screw to effect rotation of the screw, power-operated means for rotating the shaft in either direction, operatorcontrolled means for causing connection of the shaft to the screw, and means dependent on re- 16 sistance of the shoe to further pressure for dis connecting the shaft.

18. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, an abutment for a shoe on the pad, a nut connected to the abutment, a screw engaging the nut for moving the abutment toward the shoe to apply pressure thereto by rotation of the screw, a rotating shaft, a clutch for connecting the shaft to the screw, power-operated means for rotating the shaft, operator-controlled means for engaging the clutch to initiate the pressure-applying operation, means dependent on the resistance of the shoe to further pressure for disconnecting the clutch, and automatic means for reversing the rotation of the shaft and operating said clutchengaging means to relieve the pressure.

19. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, a pair of abut ments for engaging a shoe on the pad, a nut connected to each abutment, a screw for each nut, rotation of the screws operating the abutments to apply pressure to the shoe, a pair of power-operated shafts, a clutch for each shaftfor connecting it to one of the screws, manually controlled means for causing the clutches to engage the screws, and means responsive to resistance of the screws to being turned by the clutches as the pressure on the shoe increases for disconnecting the clutches.

20. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad, an abutment for engaging a shoe on the pad, means comprising a screw, a nut for relatively operating the abutment and pad to apply pressure to the shoe, power-operated means for relatively operating the screw and nut to move relatively the abutment and pad, and means controlled by the pressure applied to the shoe for causing inflation of the pad.

21. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad, an abutment for engaging a shoe on the pad, means comprising a screw and nut for relatively operating the abutment and pad to apply pressure to the shoe, power-operated means for relatively operating the screw and nut to move relatively the abutment and pad, manually operated mean for initiating the action of the power-operated means, and means for disconnecting the poweroperated means and for causing inflation of the pad.

22. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad, an abutment for engaging a shoe on the pad, means comprising a screw and nut for relatively operating the abutment and pad to apply pressure to the shoe, power-operated means for relatively operating the screw and nut to move relatively the abutment and pad, manually controlled means for initiating the action of said poweroperated means, and means responsive to resist ance of the shoe to the pressure applied for rendering the power means inoperative and causing the inflation of the pad.

23. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad, a pair of abutments for engaging a shoe on the pad, a nut connected to each abutment, a screw associated with each nut, rotation of the screws operating the abutments to apply pressure to the shoe, power-operated means for rotating the screws, manually operated means for initiating the action of. said power-operated means, and

means operating after a predetermined pres- 17 sure has been applied to the shoe for causing the inflation of the pad. 7

24. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad, a valve controlling admission of fluid pressure to the pad, a pair of abutments for engaging the shoe on the pad, a nut connected to each abutment, a screw associated with each nut, a pair of shafts alined with the screws, power-operated means for rotating the shafts, clutches for connecting the shafts to the screws, operator-controlled means for engaging the clutches, and means perated by resistance of the screws to rotation by said clutches for disengaging the clutches and opening the valve.

25. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad, a pair of abutments for engaging a shoe on the pad, a.

a nut connected to each abutment, a screw associated with each nut, rotation of the screws applying pressure to the shoe, a shaft associated with each screw, operator-controlled means for connecting the shafts and screws, means for automatically disconnecting the shafts and screws when the pressure applied reaches a predetermined amount, and means responsive to said disconnection for causing inflation of the pad.

26. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad, an abutment for engaging a shoe on the pad, a nut connected to the abutment, a screw associated with the nut, rotation of the screw applying pressure to the shoe, a shaft associated with the-screw, operator-controlled means for connecting the shaft and screw, means for automatically disconnecting the shaft and screw when the pressure applied reaches a predetermined amount, means responsive to such disconnection for inflating the pad, means acting after a predetermined time to deflate the pad, and automatic means for reversing the shaft and again operating said shaft and screw-connecting means to relieve pressure on the shoe.

27 In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad, 2. pair of abutments for a shoe on the pad, means comprising a screw and nut for moving each abutment toward the shoe to apply pressure thereto by rotation of the screw, means responsive to pressure on the shoe for limiting said pressure and causing inflation of the pad, means operating after a predetermined time to exhaust the pad, and reverse the screws to relieve the pressure of the abutments on the shoe.

28. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad, a valve controlling its inflation, an abutment for a shoe on the pad, means comprising a screw and nut for moving the abutment toward the shoe to apply pressure thereto by relative rotation of the nut and screw, a rotating shaft, connections from the shaft to efiect relative rotation of the nut and screw, power-operated means for rotating the shaft, operator-controlled means for initiating the pressure-applying operation, and means dependent on resistance of the shoe to further pressure for rendering the shaft inoperative and opening said valve to cause inflation of the pad.

29. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad, an abutment for a shoe on the pad, means comprising a screw and nut for moving the pad toward the shoe to apply pressure thereto by relative rotation of the nut and screw, a rotating, shaft, disconnectible connections from the shaft to effect relative rotation of the nut and screw, poweroperated means for rotating the shaft in either direction, operator-controlled means for initiating the pressure-applying operation, a lever, means dependent on resistance of the shoe to further pressure for operating said lever to disconnect the shaft, means operated by said lever for causing inflation of the pad, means for causing deflation of the pad after a predetermined time, and means operating thereafter to reverse said shaft and cause it again to relatively operate the nut and screw to move the abutment away from the shoe.

30. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad, an abutment for pressing a shoe upon the pad, fluid-pressure-controlled power-operated means for moving the abutment first in one direction to press the shoe upon the pad and then in the other to release the pressure, a pilot valve opened by pressure fluid and closed by a spring, the valve when open permitting passage of pressure fluid through it to cause the operation of the power-operated means to apply pressure to the shoe and when closed permitting exhaust of such fluid to cause reverse operation of the power-operated means to release the pressure on the shoe, operator-controlled means for admitting opening pressure to the pilot valve, and a timing valve controlling the release of opening pressure on the pilot valve, leakage of pressure fluid through the timing valve causing after a predetermined time reductionof opening pressure on the pilot valve, exhaust of fluid pressure through the pilot valve causing reverse actuation of the abutment by the power-operated means.

31. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of a pad to receive a shoe, an abutment for pressing a shoe on the pad, a screw for operating the abutment, a power-driven shaft, means for reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft, a spring, fluid-pressure-operated means for operating the reversing means against said spring to tension it, an automatic valve, fluidpressure-operated means for connecting the shaft to the screw, means for opening the automatic valve, after the reversing means is operated, to cause connection of the shaft to the screw, means for latching the automatic valve open, means for releasing the latch after the screw and. shaft are engaged, and means dependent on pressure applied to the shoe for releasing the shaft from the screw, said spring when released acting to reverse the direction of rotation of the shaft and again opening the automatic valve to cause operation of the fluid-pressure-operated means for connecting the shaft to the screw reversely to tillln the screw and relieve the pressure on the s 0e.

32. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad to receive a shoe, an abutment for pressing the shoe upon the pad, fluid-pressure-controlled poweroperated means for moving the abutment first in one direction to press the shoe upon the pad and then in the other to relieve the pressure and move the abutment away from the shoe, first, second and third pilot valves each opened by fluid pressure and closed by a spring, each valve when open permitting passage of pressure fluid through it and when closed permitting exhaust of the,

fluid that has been passed through it, manually controlled means for operating the first pilot valve to apply pressure to the second and third,

afirst check valve permitting quick passage of pressure fluid to the second pilot valve, a refluid to the third pilot valve, a by-pass around the second check valve allowing slow passage of fluid to the third pilot valve, quick passage of pressure fluid to the second pilot valve opening that pilot valve to cause operation of the abutment to apply pressure to the shoe, means operation of which is controlled by pressure applied to the shoe for permitting passage of fluid through the third pilot valve which meantime has been opened by passage of fluid through the by-pass around the second check valve to inflate the pad, and a needle valve for controlling pressure on the first pilot valve which after a predetermined time'releases the pressure on all the pilot valves, the pressure on the third pilot valve passing quickly through the second check valve and causing deflation of the pad, and the pressure on the second pilot valve exhausting slowly through its by-pass and causing release of the abutment after the pad has been deflated.

33. In a machine for applying pressure to shoes, the combination of an inflatable pad to receive a shoe, an abutment for pressing a shoe upon the pad, a screw for operating the abutment, a power-operated shaft for turning the screw, a spring, fluid-pressure-operated means for reversing thedirection of rotation of the shaft and compressing the spring, fluid-pressureoperated means for connecting the shaft to the screw, first, second and third pilot valves, an automatic valve, an inflating valve, manually controlled means for'opening the first pilot valve to apply pressure to open the second and third pilot valves, aflrst check valve permitting quick passage of pressure fluid to the second pilot valve, a restricted by-pass around the first check valve, a second check valve opposed to the passage of fluid to the third pilot valve, a by-pass around the second check valve allowing slow passage of fluid to the third pilot valve, quick passage of fluid to the second pilot valve opening it to supply fluid to the means for reversing the shaft, operation of the reversing means opening the automatic valve to supply fluid to the means for connecting the shaft and screw, means operation of which is controlled by pressure applied to the shoe for disconnecting the shaft and screw-and opening the inflating valve to permit passage of fluid through the third pilot valve which meantime has been opened by the passage of fluid through the by-pass around the second check valve, a needle valve for controlling pressure on the first pilot valve which after apredetermined time releases the pressure on all the pilot valves, the pressure on the third pilot valve passing quickly through the second check valve causing deflation of the pad, and the pressure 'on' the's'ec- 0nd pilot valve exhausting slowly through'its bypass and allowing reaction of the spring to operate the reversing means and then open the automatic valve to operate the means for connecting the shaft and screw to operate the screw in the reverse direction to release the pressure, and means operated by the screw to cause closing of the inflation valve.

CHARLES J. GROSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

